Flexible hose and method and apparatus for making same



June' 3, 1958 F. T. ROBERTS 2,337,121

FLEXIBLE HOSE AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SAME Original Filed Jan. 30. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J0 .f2 1115 WW1 l ,Z

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FLEXIBLE HOSE AND METHOD'AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SAME original Filed Jan. so, 195e 2 sheets-sheet 2 's MIb-u1 42 mmm IN VEN TOR.

Fred 7? Robe/#S gw Y FLEXIBLE HOSE AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SAME Fred T. Roberts,Wilton, Conn.

Original application January 30, 1956, Serial No. 562,216, now Patent No. 2,780,273, dated February 5, 1957.

Divided aud this application June 7, 1956, Serial No.'

` Claims. (Cl. 13S-56) helically lcorrugated body. This application is a division United States Patent M1ice For the purpose of illustrating the present invention a relatively short hose, such as is used as a conduit for a cooling system in an internal combustion engine, will be shown. This hose comprises a body portion 10 which in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. -l to 7 is gated at 11 and has at each end a cylindrical attaching of my copending application Serial No. 562,216, now

Patent No. 2,780,273 dated February 5, 1957.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to build up the hose body and incorporate therein the helical reenforcement as the body is built and to thereafter cord ldown the body between the reenforcements to formthe helical corrugations. This has the disadvantage that preformed bodies could not be used and also it required the cording down operation which stretched the body over the reenforcing member and down into the troughs of the corru-v gations.

The present invention overcomes these difficulties by providing a hose formed from a preformed tubular body of elastomeric or laminated fabric material which is molded in the mold cavity by lluid pressure in such a manner that the crest of the corrugations adhere to the wire reenforcement and are substantially unstretched while the troughs are compressed and molded.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Figure l shows one form of the invention with the hose partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the mandrelwith the body in position thereon prior to being contracted.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the body in contracted engagement with the surface of the uted portion.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of another form of fluted mandrel. n

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a multiple mandrel for producing a plurality of hose sections.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the mandrel, contracted body and reenforcement positioned in the two-part mold.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with the hose in molded position. I

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the corrugated portion of another form'of hose. n

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 7 with the hose of Fig. 8 being molded. l y

Y Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the reenforcement spacing attachment. n.

Fig. 1l shows a fragmentary view of the hose in the spacing attachment and pressed into engagement with the helical spring.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing the body with the pressure released prior to insertion in the mold.

Fig. 13 shows a fragmentary view of the apparatus for covering the helical reenforcement. g n

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail showing the rolling together of the layers of covering material on the reenforcement.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detailed view showing the severing of the material betweenthe convolutions of the yhelical reenforcement. I V

Fig. v16 shows the covered reenforcement.'

portion 12which is adapted to be readily slipped over the usual metallic connections to the radiator block and the like, vnot shown, to form a connection therewith.

In carrying out the present invention the corrugations are reenforced by a helical wire reenforcement 13. The reenforcement is secured to the outer surface of the corru-gations, preferably the crest thereof, and is prefera'bly covered with a cover 14, as shown in Fig; 16, to provide a smooth outer surface surrounding each of the convolutions, which cover is of a compatible elastomeric material as the body of the hose so that when the hose' is molded and set the reenforcement isse'curely adhered to the hose body and is held in position thereon.

While theV reenfor-cing member or reenforcement may be covered in anyl way, lsuch as dipping, spraying or the like, in the herein preferred form of the invention, the wires are covered by sheet rubber material which is pressed around each of the wires. This is accomplished, as shown in Figs. 13 to 15, wherein, as shown in Fig. 13, a sheet of rubber 15 is positioned over the expan'sible mandrel 16 having an inflatable elastic cover 17 of rubber or the like material. The convolutions of wire 13 are spacedv on the'exterior of the sleeve in a predetermined spaced relation and the mandrel inated to cause the sheet of rubber to be pressed against the inner surface of the convolutions and hold the wire in said predetermined spaced relation. Thereafter, a layer of rubber 18 is wrappedV around the outer surface of the coils. The mandrel is then rotated and a carriage, not shown, carrying a presser wheel or roller 19 engaging the layer on one side of the hose, a rback-up wheel or roller 20` engaging the other side of the hose and a slitter 21 adjacent the first presser wheel is fed along the mandrel vso that the presser ro-ller presses the outer layer 18 into engagement with the inner layer of rubber 15, as shown in Fig.V 14, to cause them to join together and the cutting roller or slitter 21 severs the material between the coils, as shown in Fig. 15, so that 'a resulting rubber covered, helical reenforcement shown in Fig. 16 is provided.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the body of the hose m-ay be a preformed tubular member 10a. In Figs. l to 6 it comprises an extruded or otherwise formed tube lof elastomeric material having an outer diameter at least as great as, but preferably slightly may be connected a line 27 to supply pressure or produce a vacuum in the bore. The bore is connected to passages.

26a leading to` eachof the utes. The body normally extends around thetluted portionin spaced relation, asshown in Fig. 2. Suction is applied to the bore and thence through the passage to the iiuted portion iand interior of thQbQdy'tOzSllQk the bodydown into engagement withthe tinted.. surface of the mandreb as, shown in Iig.- 3 If.

desired, the fluted portion ofthe mandrel can have longitudinal grooves or passages 2S at the bottom of the flutes, aseliowrrirtbis'.` 4J to enhance 'the holding actionin lseninsithefbodyain centractedpostion. The utedportion provides vample, supporting surface for the largebody ffvyllen the latter is` contracted and holds theA body movement tovthereby facilitate its handling.

.The mandrel and contracted body thereon are then inserted Within they spaced convolutions or the helical reenforcement, the contracted body being securely held inpositionl on the mandrel greatly facilitating this operlation, panticularly where the outside diameter of the body Ais slightly larger than` the internal diameter` of the neenforcement, When in position the end convolutions 227.01? thejreenforcement are secured to the bodyv by being taped,v down bytape 3l) at a position at Athe end of the cylindrical portion of the mandrel,y as shown in Fig.; 6. The attaching portion and tape-are then covered by la rubber layer 31 so as to provide the required body for the attaching portion of the hose.

Themandrelwith the body and reenforcement thereon are theninserted into the cavity 32 of a heated two-part mold 33 and is located therein by having the llange 34 on 4the mandrel, positioned in cooperating channels 35, 36 in the mold parts 37, 38. The walls ofthe cavity are provided vwith a helical groove and the covered helical reenforcement is positioned. in the bottom ofthe groove, as shown, in Fig. 6. The 'suction is removed from the mandrel and liuidy pressure is applied to the mandrel and through the lpassages into the interior of the body which forces the body outwardly into engagement with the .reenforcement and the walls of the groove, as :shown in- Fig, 7, andthe heated mold vulcanizes the rubber and adheres ythe body to the reenforcement. It will be seen that thebody-whichis atleast equal to or slightly larger than the internal diameter of the helical c oil will be in a Asubstantially unstretched condition in the regionV of the. crest and ina compacted and compressed molded form. in the regionof the troughs of the corrugations.

Under some circumstancesit may be desired to produce a plurality of hose sections in a single operation. This isaccomplished by using an elongate mandrel, Eas shown in Fig. 5,I and by having cylindrical collars 4i) having a diameter similar to the end sections adjustably mounted thereon and adapted to be spiacedso as to formv theintermediate attaching portions lfor the various hoses. The collarscan be secured in position by set screw 41,. The applying of the hose body and the reenforcements isl carried out in the same manner as above-described in connection with the single hose yand the longitudinal flutes and/or grooves transmit the suction and pressures to the interior of the hose body to contract and expand the corrugated sections as described. vAfter the hose is molded itis removed from the mandrel and the several hose sections Asevered at the intermediate attaching portions.

Tlle present invention also lends itself well to the manufacture of hose embodying laminated fabric as the body thereof. Sucha body can comprise a plurality of layers of' fabric material impregnated with elastomericY material or layers of fabric and elastomeric material. Such a hose is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 wherein the body comprises a plurality of layers 42 of fabric having adhered to the crest of each helical groove the coveredjreenforcement 1 3.

The body is mounted on the mandrel, contracted, intov engagement with the utedportion of the mandreln is inserted into the reenforcement which issecured, atA the ends by tape and covered with rubber ae setforthr above.v I t is inserted into the cavity in the mold and internal 'udg pressure is applied within the body to force, it into contact with the reenforcement and the walls of; the mold as shown in Fig. 9, 4so that the reenforeenfien t4 isiirmlfa'dhered to the crest l'ot'each/corrugation'formed in, the. b Qdy by the. walls, of the Cavity. Itrnay be de sirable in assembling the hose body and the reenforcement to utilize a fixture 43, such as shown in Fig. 10, comprising upper and lower sections 44, hinged at 46 and provided with a helical groove 47 on the inner surface'ofithe bore 48l extending therethrough which is the same as the groove in the mold. Sight openings 49 Iare provided at spaced intervals on the groove to enable the operator 'to check the location of the coil. The mandrel is linserted into the helical coill reenforce-v ment and `the helical Vcoils are disposed in the `xtureso that they'lie `at the bottom of the grooves, which grooves are similar to those in the mold. The suction isremoved and the body returns toits normal position, as shown in Fig. ll, wherein the body returns to its normal diametersothat the portions engage the internalfdiameterv of the reenforcement. If desired, a light pressure can be appliedto the interior of the body and cause it to take a preliminary` shape with the reenforcement located on the crest of the corrugationprior to its insertion in the mold. This has -an advantage in that the iixture is cold 4'alldpermitsA thefpreliminary shaping of the body Aprior to its;inser,tion, intov theheated molds. The pressure. canl bezjrelieved asshown itrFig. l2 and the body may then be positioned; in .the heatedmold and shownfin Eig. 9 to mold the body and adherev the reenforcement to the outer surface of the body. Here again.,the;crestportion;of4 the body is; not stretched and the trough portion is compacted and tshlaped by the fluid;

pres-surey toforml a strong :(lexiblel hose.

Variations and modifications maybe made within the scope of vthefclaims,andportions of'the improvements may be used without others.

I; claim;

1 A vmold-formed hose comprising a laminated body formed of layersoffabric having elastomeric material therebetween, said hose having cylindrical attachinglportions atleachend thereof and.helicalcorrugations.extending therebetween and, provided with a moldediouter surface, ahelicalV springcovered with elastomeric material and having spaced convolutions surrounding the body and;

having the ends thereof secured to said attaching portions and the convolutions of the spring secured to the outer SurfaceA of the-crests of the corrngations,'the body having anormal diameter at the crestsV at` leastequal to theinner diameter of the convolutions and the body in the troughs,vr

of the corrugations being in unstressed condition.

2. A molded hose comprising a body of elastomeric,

materialhaving cylindrical. attaching portions at each end thereof andfhelical corrugations extendingl therebetween and provided'with a molded outer surface, a helical spring covered with elastomeric material surrounding the body and having the endsthereof secured to said attaching portions and the convolutions of the spring secured to the outer surface of thecrests of the corrugations, the body having anormai 'diameter at thel crests at least equal to.

the inner diameter ofthe convolutions and thefbody in the troughs ofthe corrugations and the cylindrical attachingportions being in unstressed condition.

3. A mold-formed hose comprising a laminated body formed of layersof fabric` having elastomeric material therebetween, said hose having cylindrical attaching portions at eachfend thereof andhelical corrugations extending'therebetween and provided with a, molded outer surface, a Vhelical spring having. spaced convolutions surrounding the body and having the ends thereof secured to :said attaching portions and the convolutions of the spring disposed in depressions inthe crests of the corrugations.

A4. A mold-formed, spirally corrugated, 'reenforced hose comnrisingapreformed tubular body having an inner layer ofelastomeric materialand an. outer layer of fabric;

pressure applied as aser/,121

and helical corrugations extending therebetween and provided with a molded outer surface, a helical spring having spaced convolutions surrounding the body and having the ends thereof secured to said attaching portions and the convolutions of the spring secured to the crests of the corrugations, the body having a normal outer diameter at the crests at least equal to the inner diameter of the convolutions and the body in the troughs of the corrugations being in unstressed condition.

5. .A mold-formed, spirally corrugated, reenforced hose comprising a preformed tubular body of elastomeric material having cylindrical attaching portions at each end thereof and provided with a molded outer surface, a helical spring having spaced convolutions surrounding the body and permanently `attached thereto and having the ends thereof secured to the cylindrical attaching portions, the spaced convolutions of the spring being secured to the outer surface of the body at the crests thereof, the body having a depressed trough molded in the surface thereof 6 forming a corrugated wall with the trough portions thereof terminating in an arc extending below the normal inner diameter of the attaching portion and being in unstressed condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,324,850 Roberts Dec. 16, 1919 2,299,520 Yant Oct. 20, 1942 2,396,059 Roberts Mar. 5, 1946 2,430,081 Roberts et al Nov. 4, 1947 2,508,774 Roberts May 23, 1950 2,524,679 Roberts Oct. 3, 1950 2,560,369 Roberts July 10, 1951 2,739,616 Duif Mar. 27, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 328,806 Germany Nov. 5, 1920 

